Collaborative Research: Chemical and Biological Quantum Nanosensors Based on Nanoparticle Molecules

该合作奖的研究目标是通过将半导体量子点和金属纳米颗粒组成的混合系统中的量子相干性与生物分子识别功能相结合，探索化学和生物量子纳米传感器。这些传感器的独特之处在于它们能够利用这种系统中的量子相干性，将引入生物分子和化学物质的影响转化为明显且易于测量的物理量。该方法将包括利用单个和量子点-金属纳米粒子系统的集合特性，如分子型共振和激子-等离子体耦合的相干动力学，以超高灵敏度检测生物和化学制剂。光信号转导包括当这些混合系统与时变激光场相互作用时，这些介质的引入改变量子点发射中相干诱导的时间延迟的方式。这项研究涉及到由半导体量子点阵列和金属纳米颗粒组成的纳米芯片的制造，这些纳米颗粒由介电材料或生物分子相互分离。在这种芯片中，量子点或金属纳米粒子被生物功能化以用于目标检测。如果成功，这项研究将把相干纳米科学与生命科学应用联系起来，并可以推进量子计算机、纳米器件和传感器领域的发展。通过这项研究的推广计划，阿拉巴马州的高中生将通过提供精心设计的实验和互动软件的小型研讨会获得纳米科学的第一手经验。本研究为跨学科的本科生和研究生提供了一个教育平台，并为他们提供了独特的机会来研究利用生物学功能的纳米粒子系统，制造和测试具有生物和物理应用的纳米系统，并熟悉纳米技术的各种影响。这些问题的结合将为新的课程和项目的发展奠定基础，并使纳米科学的研究活动多样化。

The research objective of this collaborative award is to explore chemical and biological quantum nanosensors by combining quantum coherence in hybrid systems consisting of semiconductor quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles with biomolecules' recognition functionalities. The unique feature of these sensors is their capabilities to utilize quantum coherence in such systems to convert the impact of introduction of biological molecules and chemical substances into noticeable and easily measurable physical quantities. The approach will include using collective properties of single and ensemble of quantum dot-metallic nanoparticle systems, such as molecular-type resonances and coherent dynamics of exciton-plasmons coupling, to detect biological and chemical agents with ultrahigh sensitivity. Optical signal transduction includes the way introduction of these agents changes the time delay that is coherently induced in the emission of the quantum dots when these hybrid systems interact with time-dependent laser fields. This research involves fabrication of nanochips consisting of arrays of semiconductor quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles separated from each other by dielectric materials or biomolecules. In such chips either the quantum dots or metallic nanoparticles are biologically functionalized for target detection. If successful, this research will link coherent nanoscience to life science applications and can advance the areas of quantum computers, nanodevices and sensors. Through the outreach program of this research, the high school students in Alabama will acquire first-hand experience of nanoscience through mini-workshops that offer meticulously designed experiments and interactive softwares. This research forms a platform for education of undergraduate and graduate students in interdisciplinary disciplines and provides them unique opportunities to investigate nanoparticle systems that harness biology to function, fabricate and test nano-systems with biological and physical applications, and become familiar with the diverse impacts of nanotechnology. Combination of these issues will prepare the ground for development of new curricula and programs and diversify the research activities in nanoscience.